Monday, July 11, 2016

UNBOXING - Amazon Prime Pantry - My First Box!

 Prime Pantry Box

I recently purchased my first Amazon Prime Pantry box and felt so excited to get it in the mail! I went ahead and ordered it when my box was only around 80 percent full since I had a credit on my account that would cover the $5.99 fee. When I first received the box, I was surprised by the size and weight of it. But, it completely makes sense because I ordered numerous items.

Since so many people ask me what I buy on Amazon, I decided to make a video of me opening my first Amazon Prime Pantry box. Check out the video here:



I added a detailed list of what I purchased so you can see the cost of each item. And so you can see what you're missing out on if you don't have an Amazon Prime Account. Try to guess the total after you see all of the items. I bet you'll be wrong!

My Amazon Prime Pantry Box: What I Bought

1) Charmin Ultra Strong Toilet Paper 6 Mega Rolls (click on image for more info)


2) Q-Tips Cotton Swabs, 500 count


3) Tide Original Scent Liquid Laundry Detergent, 50 Fl Ounce (2 count)


4) Bob's Red Mill Large Flake Nutritional Yeast


5) Quilted Northern Ultra Plush Bath Tissue, 12 count


6) Jif Peanut Butter, 40 oz


Total = $44.77

Exactly. That's all I paid!

This is when you give yourself permission to buy yourself something real nice like...

Thursday, July 7, 2016

Prime Day 2016: 10 Questions & Answers to Help You Save Money


If you're an avid Amazon shopper such as myself, you know all about Prime Day and what deals are being offered. However, if you're busy or haven't had the time to research Prime Day, certain details about the global shopping event may not be clear. So, I'm going to answer 10 questions that will help you save money on Tuesday, July 12th! You'll definitely want to be informed; many analysts are predicting that Amazon's Prime Day could double in sales compared to last year.
Let's get into the questions and answers:

10. What is Prime Day and how long does it last?

Last year, Amazon decided to start Prime Day to celebrate its 20th anniversary, which is essentially "a one-day only global shopping event exclusively for Prime Members" according to Amazon. It begins on Tuesday, July 12th at 12am Pacific Standard Time and lasts one day.

9. Can anyone shop on Prime Day?

No. You must have an Amazon Prime account in order to have access to the 2016 Prime Day deals. My suggestion is that you get a Prime Account ASAP. Then, once you've done that, quickly create a shopping list so that you're able to take advantage of the best deals. Since there will be over 100,000 items on sale for Prime Day, it's critical that you're organized because the hottest deals will be the hardest to get! Did I mention you may win $1,000 by creating a Shopping List?

8. How will I know when an item from my Shopping List goes on sale?

You need to download the Amazon app on your phone immediately. Stop what you're doing now if you don't have it yet, and get that app on your phone. Once you've done that, enable notifications so you know when a deal is on sale. Here's how it will work: Amazon will send a notification to your phone if an item in your Shopping List is a Prime Day Lightning Deal. You will then need to place the order.
7. Should I purchase a 99-a-year Amazon Prime Membership?
Absolutely! And, Amazon is NOT paying me to say that. I avoided getting a Prime account for a long, long time. When I finally did, I realized how much money and time I was saving by using it. You're going to read many websites that tell you to get the Prime Membership and then cancel it after Prime Day. But, I think you should keep it! Why? You get access to Prime Pantry, which allows you to save major bucks on household, beauty, and other products. You also get free photo storage, discounts on diapers, access to Amazon shows, and much more. Email me at Lauren@TheLHFactor.com with any questions.

6. What kind of items are going to be on sale for Prime Day?

Since there will be over 100,000 items on sale for Prime Day, I can't go over each one. But, here are some of them: televisions, watches, Kindle products, and even special experiences with musical artists such as Flo Rida and Blink 182. Amazon is saying that products from almost all departments will be going on sale on July 12th. So, I would just expect that whatever you have in mind will be offered at a discounted rate on Prime Day. 
To give you an idea of what you may be saving, for last year's Prime Day there was a deal that gave Amazon Prime customers 30% off Xbox Ones. There were also deals that included 47% off headphones, 30% off cameras, and 50% off Kindle Fire HDs. 

 

5. Do I have to purchase a product right away, or can I wait since it's in my cart?

If you want to ensure that you get the deal for that product, you should definitely make the purchase immediately. When you're shopping on Amazon, please remember that simply placing an item in your cart does not reserve it. You have to place an order to complete the purchase. So, make sure you receive a confirmation email on Prime Day to make sure you placed the order. 
Do not get caught up in the other deals and start wasting 30, 40 or 60 minutes. You don't have time for that!

4. Am I actually saving money by shopping on Prime Day?

Unless you have access to MAJOR discounts on popular electronics, fitness equipment, music, and much more the answer is YES. This week, Amazon rolled out an early Prime Day deal: a 32-inch television with a Fire TV stick for only $120. oh, and a Dell Desktop was on sale for around $700. See more of the deals you missed out on here. So, on certain items you may be able to save up to 60% if not more.
ADVICE: Do research before you start shopping and creating your Shopping List. Although I believe you will find awesome deals, it doesn't mean you are getting the best deal. So, make sure to do comparison shopping! Go on other retail websites and look at what they are charging for the items you'd like to purchase on Prime Day.

3. Can I just sign up for the Amazon Prime free trial?

Of course you can! Amazon offers a free 30 day trial period that you can use for Prime Day. Take a look at the terms and conditions if you decide to go that route. Keep in mind: You will have to give payment information in order to begin the free trial. After the 30 days, you will be automatically charged if you don't cancel in time.

Know of someone who could use an Amazon Prime account? Use the link below to send them a nice surprise:

Shop Amazon - Give the Gift of Amazon Prime 

2. Will other websites have good deals on that day?

Maybe. Many sites want to compete with Amazon's big day, and will offer decent deals. I would encourage you to start researching those websites now so that you don't waste time on Prime Day trying to figure out your options. In order to save the most money, it's important that you know the answer to this question before July 12th. 

1. Any other ways I can save money?

Use Prime Now. Prime Members who make their first order through Prime Now (using promo code 10PRIMENOW) will save 10 bucks AND also get a promo code for an extra $10 to shop on Prime Now in the future. This is only in select cities so make sure you check the list first!
With the above questions now answered about Prime Day 2016, you should be on your way to save money! It's all about being organized and doing your research ahead of time. Make sure to create your Shopping List and download the Amazon shopping app. Make sure to enable notifications AND 1 click ordering.
Have more questions? Email me: Lauren@TheLHFactor.com!

You still have plenty of time to start your FREE AMAZON PRIME trial. Click below to begin:


Tuesday, July 5, 2016

#LaurensHelpDesk: How to Delete A Post From Facebook


Although there are 1.65 billion active users on Facebook according to Statista, that doesn't mean everyone knows how to use the popular social media network. Truthfully, if you're not familiar with Facebook, it can be confusing to use. And, as a Marketer, I often get questions about social media--ranging from simple to complex.

So, this is why I decided to start #LaurensHelpDesk in which I answer questions about marketing, social media, and much more (such as Amazon). No question is a dumb question! For the first #LaurensHelpDesk, my trusted side kick--Violet--chose the questions from a pile of many! Francine out of Wisconsin asked me,

How do you delete a post from Facebook?

Good question, Francine! Check out the YouTube video I made answering your question:


Also, here are the steps to delete a post from Facebook just so you have it:

1) Log in to your Facebook account
2) Go to your timeline (some also call it "profile")
3) Find the post you want to delete
4) Click the arrow symbol at the top right corner of the post
5) From the list of options, select "delete"
6) Confirm the deletion
7) Refresh your page to confirm that the post has been deleted

If you have anymore questions, feel free to email me at Lauren@TheLHFactor.com!

Also, add me on Twitter: @WriterAlexis and use #LaurensHelpDesk to submit your questions.

Friday, July 1, 2016

Amazonaholic The Web Series - Watch Episode #1


I've been shopping on Amazon for years. However, last year I started using Amazon Prime multiple times a week. I was getting packages so often that it became a joke at my job (that's where I had packages delivered). My co-workers eventually called me a "Prime Addict" and thought I was an unofficial spokesperson for Amazon. As the weeks went by and the boxes kept coming, I started to agree with them.

In October of last year, I jokingly said to my colleagues that I was going to start a web series called, Amazonaholic. Then, I started to give the idea some serious thought and had a conversation with myself (I have many of those). 

"Do I love Amazon Prime?"

"Am I an Amazonaholic?"

"Could I write a ton of scripts about Amazon?"

The answer to ALL of those questions was YES. So, that's when I decided to spend one evening brainstorming what Amazonaholic  the web series would be. After several hours and a few glasses of wine, I had over 5 episodes written. That's when I realized I had to make them, and approached several actors I know. Luckily, they all wanted to be a part of the project and thought it would be fun. My cousin who is the CEO of Librium Pictures came on as the Director. It all came together quickly and easily!

In March of this year, we filmed the first 4 episodes. Here are a few pictures from the set:




It was a ton of fun to be in the videos and also work on set with Angela Burris (Director) and Shannon O' Conner (Actress). Please check out the first episode here:


Like, comment, and subscribe to my YouTube channel, please. Thanks! Hopefully one day Amazon will sponsor the series = )



Amazon Dash Button - How to Set It Up & My Review

Pic by Lauren Hamilton

Amazon Dash Buttons came out last year in 2015. They are small, plastic pods that allow you to order your home food, drink, health, and beauty essentials with the click of a button. So basically, if you run out of laundry detergent and you have a Tide button above your dryer, simply press it and more detergent will be delivered to your doorstep. No device needed! There are currently over 100 brands that have an Amazon Dash Button, and that list is growing fast! 
I just purchased my first Amazon Dash Button, and got it in the mail. My first impression: cute, small, and great packaging. When I took it out of the box, I pressed the button a few times (not on purpose) and proceeded to panic. Note: If you press the button, don't worry; you have to set up your Amazon Dash Button first! I then grabbed the directions at the bottom of the box. Make sure you don't miss them because they are easy to miss. I didn't see them the first time! 

Setting Up Your Amazon Dash Button

  1. Download the latest version of the Amazon shopping app on your iPhone, Android, or Fire phone.
  2. Launch the Amazon Shopping app on your phone and then click "Menu" on the top left (it's the icon that looks like three bars). Scroll down and click on, "Your Account." Then, under "Dash Devices" press, "Set Up A New Device." From there you simply have to follow the directions. A few things to keep in mind: You must have a WiFi connection, and you must have an Amazon Prime Account to order/use the button. TIP: Have your WiFi password on hand as you will need it in order to set up your Amazon Dash Button.
  3. Once you've successfully set up your button, you just have to figure out where to put it. I would suggest a place that allows you to easily see the button so you can use it as a reminder. However, it's up to you. Place the button wherever you'd like!
  4. When you're ready to reorder, all you have to do is press the button. Red means it didn't go through, and green means you've successfully made the reorder! I will be pressing my button again soon; Violet loves her dog treats!
photo by Lauren Hamilton

Here are some things to keep in mind:
  1. Turn ON notifications. When you're setting up your Amazon Dash Button, you have the option of being notified after you've made a reorder. This is great because if you accidentally press it, you'll get a notification on your phone and be able to cancel it before it's shipped.
  2. Use the adhesive. This ensures that it will stay in one place and not move around. You don't want to lose your button! 
  3. Make sure the details are correct. When you're setting up your dash button, double check that your name & address are correct. It never hurts to take another look.
Let's get into the pros and cons of the Amazon Dash Button:

THE CONS

  • You have to pay $4.99 for each button. So, if you're a Prime Member, you get a $4.99 credit AFTER your first "click" of the button. And, you can do this for each button you purchase. However, if you don't make that first "click" you will not get the $4.99 credit. I still think the price is too high even though you have a chance to get the $4.99 credit. At the end of the day, the money still comes out of your pocket and into Amazon's. Why not reduce the cost?
  • The button could be smaller. Yes, it’s already small. But, imagine if you have one in each room. They start to stick out. And if it’s something that goes on a small appliance like a coffee maker, it’s not cute boo. My suggestion is that they make different sizes.
  • Need more brand selection. Since buttons just came out in 2015, there’s not a huge selection.  
  • Put a magnet in it. The first thing I did when I got my button is try to put it on my fridge. It fell. I get that Amazon wants you to put the button near the item you’ll be reordering, but I want it in a place I often go to so I don’t forget. 
  •  Lastly, I'm still mad about these buttons being $4.99!

THE PROS

  • Makes life easier and saves time. Press a button and BAM! You get your package without even getting out a device. Now, that's love!
  • It’s a great reminder. Seeing one of these is a great reminder to reorder whatever I need.
  • It’s easy to set up and use. It took me under 10 minutes to set up my button.
Overall, I think the Amazon Dash Button is worth it ESPECIALLY if you live a busy and active life. However, Amazon needs to figure out a way to make them cheaper. If I wanted 10 of them, there's no way I would spend $50. After all, each time I press the button, I'm spending money. Hopefully, the price will go down to $2 each or less.

Ready to get your first Dash Button? Press the image below to get started!


If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment. Also, I made a video that details the set up process here: